Pressure recording device



April 2 4, 1934. G, v, D. MARX y,1,955,855

PRESSURE RECORDING DEVICE I Fim-sept. 16, i931 2 sheets-snee; 1

Inventar Attorney;

Apri124, 1934. y G. v. D. MARX 'y 1,955,855

PRESSURE RECORDING DEVICE v Filed sept. 16. 19514 2 sheets-sheet 2 v TIME- 'Mm/UTE s Inventor Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNiTEDLSTA e' 1,955,855 PRESSURE' RECORDING DEVICE Guido V. D.v Marx; Palo Alto, Calif., assignonto Y.

Standard Oil.- Comp any ,of California, -San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Applieaticn september 1s;'19s1, serial No. 563,043 I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus. for recording the pressures existing in well holes such as bores of oil, water orgas'wells. T he'invention .is `particularly directed tol aportable device ca- 5 pable of' being lowered into a well hole andforrning a record of the pressures existing at various' i r depths in the Well. y In the drilling of wells for t e production o foil, water and gas, a hole is boredin the ground Yextending, downwardly to a point or points where accumulations of hydrocarbons and/or water existA in the formation, It is frequently desirable to determine accurately at whichPQints or depths vgas,A oil or other fluids enter the well -hole and; while much informationis 'available i ed by anyone skilledin the yart of oil production" that by determining pressures'r at various points "in la wellhole, lvaluable information lean' be o fif' ,tained regarding-the ability of the formationflto produce gas, loil or other fluidsatvariousatesf;

:the yultimate amount of such production recev- 0"'erable `by the well, the proper design ofi/.flow

f'properlocationfof gas or.v air lift devicesand pumps, or lother mechanically operated devices' 4for liftingiiuids to the surface of thj'grOlI-nd'. For this reason, the device of'this invention has ;v `been designed soasto be capable of obtaining a #record of I .pressures existing throughout the' envtire column ofithe well under variousfcorrditions of. flowrangingupward from a shut in or non- 4 .'fflowingcondition. f Because of the particular use` forfwhic'h'4 the pressu'reifrecording device of this invention isdel- "accurate;and suiicientlyrugged to successfully .i'zwithstand the shocksI and jars incident to its travelvffromlthe surface downward through vthe i, vwell boreza'nd its-:subsequent withdrawal fromthe welle;v The device must function ksatisfactorily swhen;subjected,totemperaturesof 'about 250 F. and pressures up to more than 3,000 pounds per square inch, The working parts must be sealed ''protected' from the entrance of oil,- water, a mudfuid, or other extraneous matter which lmayvbeffin the well. Furthermore,` the from the examining of samples ofithe'formation' strings or tubing, and 'the ancient desgnlanc (C1. l23g- 5.3)

device should be capable .of assemblyand successful operationv by nonLtechnical operators, and the record should beclearly and permanently made.

Naturally, the device must be compact andof f such size as to be readily portable, easily handled when inserting ina well, and capable of being lowered into awell through any customary flow string or tubing of customary diameter. The devicfe, of ,course, must be suiciently rugged' sof;

that in case the device Iis droppedinto a welllgs when the lowering cable or lineshouldbreak), no -undue damage is occasioned either the well,

its equipment, or the instrument.

yItis an object of this inventionto disclose `and vprovide a device for recording the pressures ."ex-

isting at various depths in a well borein a simple Vand effectivemanner.v

Another objectl is to disclose a :vice for producing `records of pressures` within well holes, thedevice being capableiof being 1/lowered through now string or tubing of any customary diameter.

Anotheiobj'ect' is to dis vicecapable of beingflowered into 'well hclesand form-:a1 record of fluid pressures existing therein, the perating range of the device beingreadily alterable; i

Another 'objec t of this invention' isl to disclose mi provide lay decloseand providefa de- ,-anfdjprovidefa portable device capable' of being lowere'd into wel1` holes to form a record of pressures existing therein, the construction permitting ready and-simple assembly and operation.

f still further object of this vinvention is to disl `close1and provide a construction of pressure` re cdrding devices adapted tobe lowered intowell lioles whereby entry of mud fluid, oil, wateryetc., v'finto' the device, is effectively prevented.

' 7A still further object of the invention is to disl closeand provide a deviceof simple andeili'cient construction rcapable of being loweredr into well holes to form agpefrmanent record of fluid presf Sgnedfnumemus problems have been ex-coun sures existing 1n such well hole at various depths.

"tereds- 1 'The apparatus must necessarily be simple,

4'I'he'se and other objects', uses and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled the art frm`the Afollowing detailed description of one preferred embodimentofjthis invention and its mannerfofrv operation, it .being those skilled in thefart will readily observe that'v simplifications could-be made-'in the/ device had to the'appendeddrawings, which Q understood that'the inventionis ynotV limited to the ydevice specically described `hereinafter ,as

numerous changes and modificationsandfurth'er- -device from a ilowing 'oilwellz of aboutA 3.or 4` minutes before the device was lowered,A intothe'well. t Subsequent horizontal lines Fig. 1 kis a general side elevation of-the device being lowered into a well hole.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion o! the device shown in Fig.k l. F18; 3 is a longitudinal"` throug'hqthe lower portion o! the device shown in Fig. f1.

Fig. 4* is an enlargedk longitudinal i sectionl through a portion of the device shown in Fig. 2.kr

I Fig. `i', is an kenlarged transverse section taken' along the plane 5-5 indicatedin Fig. 2. y

f Fig. 6 is atypicaichart or record taken As shown in Fig. l. the device isgpreferably'in the i'orm ot a'cylinder provided witha lowerfsec-y 'tion l forming a pressure chamber, upper section 2 constituting a recordingchamber, and an Aintermediate section 3 constimting 'a spring chamber.` .The device may be ytlit`e-tublnsb4 orcasing 5 o! a well in any 'suitable mannenras bynieansoi'a line 6 attached toithe upper portion of the device.

f as etetedheremtefore, the device is adapted to n forma record ofthepressure existing withinthe well holefandA one' iorm'of record is shown in Fig.

'Blf 1t 'be Seen lthe orriir'iaterepresents per poundper square inch whereas the abscissay represents time ,in Q Thehorizontalportionfta) ofthe record indicates that the record at zeropounds or atmospheric pressure. The sharp vertical line (li)l Vof graph ywas obtained when the instrument was placed in L"thefwell iat the and indicates that the e `well was producing against a 250 pound back,v

pressure atthetime-the recordfwas'made.

'I'he horizontal line (c) ithen indicates 'a lapse ln the record points` atwhich the lowering of the device was stopped in rorder to check the pressures at the depthsindicate'd.`

A maximum pressure of some 1710 was C at the bottom o i the well (4500y i'eet) and the device was pulled back tothe surface at.

. a unii'oriny rate and without further stops.y

`The pressure yand time coordinates as wellas theother` descriptive matter appearing injFig. 6, do not necessarily appear on the record as taken by the device. It willbe observed that 'even' at the slow' lowering rate into the well `the/entire t to" rig.- 3.' e hejevy `eteeitute 7 1s threadedly connected at either end to plugs 3 and -`9, suitable gaskets being'provided between'the tube andthe plugs to insure a tight closure.;y The f lower plug 9 maybe provided with an axial bore 10 adapted to slidablyA but snugly receiveiapiston llprovidedwithan enlargement or stop l2fwithinthe spring cylinder '1. The spring cylinder I is provided with. a compression spring ,13 resting against the stop 12 and yieldably yurgingbthepis- 1 ton l1 lintothepressure chamber Lftheflatter beingconnected toy the lower plug"9.` The resistance to compression of the spring 13is such that it is capable o! movement within therang'es or pressure acting on the piston 11.r j

Surrounding-the bore loin the plug I9 is a cir`- f cular recess' adapted'to receive a gasket 14 having` a U-shaped haltsection, the open endof theu facing the pressurechamberl andthe inner surfaces of the gasket being in contact `with the surfaces oi the piston rod 11. yThe `gasket 14 may by .the

yber'etained by a metal washer 15 which in turn is held in place by means'oi a sleevev16 threadedly connected to the'plug 9.` The sleeve 16 surrounds the pieton` 11 but le spaced therefrom.

The exteriorI pressure chamber housing 1 may Ibe provided with" 17 adjacent the' plug 9.

Preferably the lower end of the pressure chamber l is illled with oil,`water, or other incompressible iluld so asto present mudiluid, water', or other substances 1in the well hole from contaminating or contacting .withy the piston 1l.

Theyvgasket'lit, because ,of its vU-shaped half section,.hasj'beenf found to eil'ectively prevent the entrance of-"oill or other liquid into the spring ,chamber 'I even `when the deviceis subjected to high pressures.` Maniiestiy, an increase of presthe gasket 14 will cause the gasket to more closely adhere to the piston 11. Even this construction, howeventmay permit a small yamount of oil to en outlet yis' isL provided in the lower 'portion of the 'spring chamber 7j said outlet being normally closed faseby means oi a threaded plug 19. e Between runs, any oil which has entered the spring .sure within thepressure chamber 1 acting upon fenter the springchamber '7 and for this reason chamber I7 may be removed therefrom by open- `Operably connected to the upper endvof plug e `v8, as shown in`Figy.2, is a tubular housing 2 forming the lrecording chamber. 'I'he tubular` hous- .ing 2 may be threadedly connected to the plug 8 las indicated at4 20, a lcopper gasket 21 being provided vbetween the plug 8 and the cylindrical housing 2.v` lhe upper lencl oi' the cylindrical housing 2 maybek closed by means of a'plug 22.v The plugs 58,*9 and 22 may be'providedy with drilled holes y23which permit the use of a conventional spanner lwrench in ymaking up kand disassembling the def vice.

Asshoivn in Fig. 5, the upper end of the eyii'ndrical housing 2 Vmay be provided with two dia- /nie'tricallyfoppose'd' longitudinal grooves 24 andl 24' adapted ftojreceive ears25 extending from a A'plate 26ftowhich`is attached a driving means such asa clockworkl27. `The ears 25 rest on the bottom of the longitudinal sl'ots or grooves 24 andthus the clockwork or other driving means is suspended in the upper portion ci' the device. t A bushing 28,. providedwitha square or hexagonal recess 29 in 'its center, is threadedlyconnected to the'upper end oiy the cylindrical housing 2 so as to press down vagainstthe plate 26 and retain'said plate and the drivingmeans 27 in position. f

A diemetrar slot 'ao is formed in the yuppery surface oi' 'the bushing 28, such'slotbeing adapted to receive a lockinglbar 31, the locking bar being of' such length kas to enter into the slots or grooves 24 and24jformed in the cylindrical housing 2, thereby preventing the bushing 28frornrotating and therebyloosening the driving means.

The driving means or clockwork`2y7fmay be' of driven by one fork preierablyk twoy -main springs and providedwith a gearA 'train'and'escapement "so that the 4recording drum (subsequently described) makes 4one revolution in l2 hours, 24

any `desiredy type. It may be asimple clockwork hours or any Vdesired period oi' time; yox" the drivtori-end batteries.` e n -r f A spindle 33v is attachedA to a stationary portion of the frame o! -theiclockwork 27 by means ing means'mayl consist `of asmallelectric `mo.

of aself-'aligning ball bearing 34;;Inwthis manner, an accurately centered andiiexible-support for the spindle 33 is provided.

mounted upon the spindle 33 is a *recording drum of any suitableconstruction.` As

shown in the drawings however, the krecording pendently of the spindle. v

A spur gear 40 is attached to or end member 36 of the recording drum and a driving connection isthen made between the spur gear 40 and the clockwork or other driving means 27. Such a driving connection is indicated'by the pinion 41. A recording sheet may be wrapped around the drum 35 and held in place by means of annular spring clamp members such as the member 42 at each end'of the drum. Conven` tional chemical marking paper such as is used for engine indicators and the like, is suitable for this service.

The lower end of the spindle 33 extends through an axial aperture formed in a flanged member 43 supported on the upperend of a cylindrical spacing member 44, attached in vany suitable manner, as by means of the flange 45. to the up" per end of the plug 8. The spacing cylinder or member 44 is provided with a longitudinal slot,

most clearlyv shown at 46 in Fig. 4.

Longitudinal motion of the piston V11 may. be transmitted to a stylus as byvmeansof arod extending through the spring chamber 7 and through a bore 49 formed in the plug 8. The

endl of the rod 50 may extend into they recordingl chamber 2 as indicated in Fig. 2. The stylus. consisting of a springf steel member 51provided with a scribing point at its upper end, may be attached tovan L-shaped bracket 52 carried by the upper end of the rod 50 between ball thrust bearings 53 and 54. These ball thrust bearings' `are retained onthe rod 50. between a nut 55 and a compression spring '56, said compression 50, said lock nut being adapted to contact with the plugl 8 and thus limit the downward motion of the rod 50. By providing the ball thrust bearings 53V and 54 between the stylus bracket 52 and the rod 50, any rotation of the rod is notA transmitted to the stylus bracket 52. i

"Ihe stylus arm 51 as well as the end of the stylus bracket 52, areguided in the longitudinal slot 46 of the spacer cy1inder'44. In operation, therefore, the axial movement of the piston 11 i`s transmitted to the stylus 51 and recorded upon the cylinder 35 duringv the rotation of such ycylinder.

It will be noted that the driving means 27 and the recording .cylinder 35 are interconnected and may be removed as a unit through the upper portion of the recording chamber' 2. Provision has been made for automatically moving thevstylus 51 out of cooperative or recordingrelatioii with the recording rum 35 when the drivingmeans 27 or the recording drum 35 is moved longitudinally, as for example when removing .the recording cylinder and clockwork from the recordingy chamber 2. These means may consist of a bell crank lever 60 pivotally connectedto a threaded stud 61 carried by the lower ."side of the flanged cover plate 43 on the upper end of the spacing member 44. vOne end of the bell crank lever 60 is adapted to be depressed by the lower end of spindle 33 when the apparatus is assembled. The other end of the bell crank lever ispivotally connected to a push rod 62r extending through suitable apertures in the cover plate and member the upper hub particular time. spring resting on a lock nut 57 carried by the rod spring 13 with a corresponding'maximumv height .of record on the sensitized paper carried by' the Y recording .drum 35, for various ranges of pressure,

44 and on the same longitudinal center line-as the slot 46 previously mentioned. -A leaf spring 63 iscarried by the spacer member 44 at a point diametrically opposite the sloty 46 and isl 'ar- :ranged to urge the plunger or push rod'62 out.-

wardlyagainst ythe"sty1u's"`51. It will be evident that when the-plate .26, clockwork or driving means 27, spindle 33, and recordingcylinder l35 are"movedlongitudinally` out' ofi the recordchambef 2, thev leaf spring 63-.will urge'. the

p1unger62 'against the styius-51 .and thusfca'use the stylus `rto move outof contact with the recording cylinder 35'.v

The device described hereinabove may low-l ;ered int'oa well holey in any suitable manner. For

example,the 'upper plug 22fmay be provided with a threaded extension 64' which gis hollow and which is provided withea through pin 65 to which tached.v 4A piece of steel tubing 66: may lbe threaded over the outside of the extension 64 so as to fserve as ameans for a fishing tool to grasp if the As will, be seen from the description given hereinabove,the-apparatus is essentially a spring lever plunger which is acted upon by "the pressure in the well to be tested.. The motion of the plung- The combination' of the longitudinal motion-of the stylus and the rotary er' isi' transmitted to thev stylus 51 andmoves' itk longitudinally, in direction proportion to the pressure on ythe plunger.

motion of the recording 'drum 35 givesa record Y onthe sensitized paper similar to the record shown in Fig. .6. andl this recordmay be compared withl thedata onthe location of theinstruinent at any In orderto obtain maximumdeiiectionof the it is desirable to providesetsof plugs 9 and pis-4 ,tons 11, the latterfhaving r'various diameters.

i For example, in a recording device which i is to operate under a maximum of 1000 pounds per square Y incha piston with a diameter of'approximately 0.565inches has been found suitable; a 3000 pound' per square inch recorder has been found to require a piston of 0.326 inches in diameter when the same spring 13 is used. 'Ihe di'amei'er of the bore 10 and cup-leather 14 inthe plug 9 must correspond with the piston diameter. y

The calibration of the instrument is preferably made with a, conventional dead-weight tester such as is commonly used for `the calibration of pres-f sure gages. To use thisv device, all but one of and the deadweight tester connected to the remaining port. It has been found that when a calibration is made in this manner and the pres"- sure is increased to a maximum and then decreased to zero,` two curves of deflection will be obtained. This is caused by the slight butrunavoidable friction in the moving parts. In actual practice, however, when the device is dropped into a well at the end of a wire or cable, the jars and shocks which result fromcontact with the tubing joints will give av single curve or rather two curves which practically overlap. lThis actualcurve will lie between the two found by calibration with the'150 dead-weight tester. 

